Day in the Life of a Student Midwife: Theory & Lectures

Ever wondered what a theory day looks like for a first-year student midwife? From morning commutes and Onenote revision hacks to Rocky Road breaks, flatmate lunches, and passing A&P with 80%+, first-year student Ella shares all about lectures, study routines, and why her mum inspired her journey into midwifery.

Q. Please tell us why you wanted to be a midwife and what your journey was like to get accepted!

My biggest inspiration to become a midwife was my mum! She has been a nurse for over 40 years and is also dual-trained as a midwife, she would tell me her stories from working as a nurse/midwife and I found it so interesting. I knew I always wanted to work in healthcare but wasn’t sure what yet until my mum explained midwifery to me!

I originally wanted to be a call operator for the emergency services, but then knew I wanted to be more hands on. I made the jump and dropped out of sixth form and I completed my access course to midwifery in early 2025, and got my place at university mid 2025. Dreams really can come true!

Morning Routine and Planning

Q. What does a typical morning look like when you’re heading in for a full day of lectures?

I was super lucky by being able to live just a five minute walk away from my university. This meant I could wake up just an hour before my lecture started. I promise I managed to get there on time!

I would usually wake up, make sure my bag is packed, then get in the shower as full days usually lecture days last around six hours, then I would make sure I have a fulfilling breakfast as that’s very important for my concentration. I always check before I go in what room we are in for the day and what our lectures look like.

Q. Do you like to use a planner or other ways to organise when you are at uni/on placement?

I actually bought the student midwife planner from your shop! I have found it so useful to note down my room numbers, what lectures we are doing for the day and when I am on placement.

I also find it helpful to put reminders on my phone so I get a notification before I go into uni. We are lucky to have a timetable ahead of time, which I can save to my phone and look at where I need to be.

Q. What do you pack in your bag for a day of lectures?

My two most important things are pens and my laptop. I will also pack a lunch unless I fancy buying something from the local coffee shops! I also like to have a lined notebook for important things I want to note down in my lectures.

Inside the Lecture Hall & Note-Taking

Q. What topics do you cover in your lectures in your first year?

We have covered a range of topics throughout first year, mainly the basics of antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care and how as student midwives we are expected to participate in this care.

We have also covered anatomy and physiology this year which is super important for when practising clinical skills and understanding physiology of pregnancy and birth.

We have also covered neonatal care and immediate care of the birthing person in the postnatal period. First year mainly oversees the ‘normal’ regarding care.

Q. Which ones do you enjoy the most/find the most challenging?

Anatomy and physiology was the most challenging module however it was also the most enjoyable for me. I actually failed science in school and always considered myself not very good at it. However learning the physiology of the antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal period was so interesting to me and I actually managed to pass my exam with over 80%.

I learnt lots of revision techniques over this module and I genuinely loved learning about it so it really stuck in my head! It’s also great now I can actually reflect back on this module in practice.

Q. How do you like to take notes during heavy lectures to keep everything organised and easy to revise later?

I like to take my notes on Onenote on my laptop. I usually will get up the PowerPoint slides and half copy those and half copy what the lecturer is saying.

I usually then go home and re-organise the notes and write down on pieces of paper the most important parts. As I found repetition the best way to revise personally.

I organise my notes into modules and then into the singular lectures which I find really easy to look back on when revising.

Lecture Breaks & Flatmate Lunches

Q. What is your non-negotiable lecture break pick-me-up?

This is definitely a habit I need to get out of but the Rocky roads they sell at my uni are absolutely splendid and sometimes I just cannot help myself! I also enjoy sitting with my friend group and just talking about general life to have a breakaway from the lectures.

Q. How do you and your flatmates/friends like to spend your break times?

We are lucky to have some nice outdoor spaces around our uni so usually we will spend our break times sat on the benches in the sun eating our lunch and just chatting. It’s simple but so much fun.

Q. How do you like to celebrate yourself along the way?

I’ve celebrated by mainly going out for food, it’s my guilty pleasure. I have so many restaurants I enjoy eating at and I find it is always a treat when I have finished a module. At the beginning of the year I treated myself to lots of things from your shop such as pens, the written planner, the wall planner and the Keyring!

Post-Uni Food Shop & Evening Planning

Q. What’s your post-lecture routine once classes finish?

Usually I would go straight home however if I am really desperate for a food shop, I will take my closest friend from my cohort with me which just makes it so much more enjoyable.

Sometimes we will go to the retail park for fun and we always end up buying something we don’t really need! I am really lucky to have a partner who makes some really lovely dinners. This means after university I can relax, get the work needed to be completed done and enjoy the rest of my evening.

Q. Once you're back home, how do you use your Student Midwife Planner to map out module deadlines, essay targets, and placement shifts so you don't feel overwhelmed?

For each day, I will note down the date and whether I am due an exam or an essay on that day and if I’m also in uni. I will also note down when the results for our exams and essays are out as this takes the pressure off not knowing when I will get them back! I also write down my placement shifts which include the timings and the place I need to be which can help me get prepared for the day.

Q. What does a successful study day feel like when you finally close your laptop for the evening?

It feels so relieving, but also by this point I am shattered! It’s always nice to know you’re done for the day though.

Q. How are you finding the workload in your first year, what’s the balance like between down-time/lectures, independent study/clinical skills/placement, and do you get time for a social life in between? Do you spend a lot of social time with others in your cohort?

The workload gradually got more and more throughout the year, but it’s always able to be well managed with good time management. The social side of life definitely becomes much more difficult and more effort needs to be put into making plans with people, that’s why I found it really important to schedule downtime for myself and make time to see my friends. Since starting uni it’s been nice to spend time with people in my cohort but also from other courses such as nursing, and also staying in contact with friends from home.

 

Thank you so much to Ell for contributing her student midwife story and giving us an insight into what it's really like being a first year student midwife!

If you have a student midwife story to share, please let me know - I'd love to share it.